Heritage High School Principal Cory White was looking forward to celebrating with the Class of 2020 as they received their diplomas.
“The Class of 2020 will always be special to me as they will be the first graduating class since becoming principal of Heritage High School,” White said. “I was able to have all of these students in class as a teacher so I have watched them come in as Freshmen and grow to the superb people they are today.”
Like every other high school in Illinois, Heritage had to change their original graduation ceremony plans, moving to a virtual ceremony that will be recorded on May 15-17. Seniors are currently signing up for 15-minute time slots where they will enter the building with four family members who can watch them walk across the stage.
Per Illinois social distancing guidelines, all in attendance will be required to wear a face covering, and the school will clean surfaces after each family has left the building. Graduates will be required to enter the building with their cap and gown on, and can remove their mask to take a photo after grabbing their diploma.
White said that Heritage was keen to the idea of a virtual ceremony from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but had also discussed doing something on the football field where people could be distanced. Pritzker’s phased guidelines did not allow for that in the near future, though.
“We are still in hopes of having an in-person ceremony in June or July,” White said.
Heritage seniors have been on the hearts and minds of administrators and staff since they left the school building in mid-March.
White reached out to students weekly to check up on them, and Mrs. Archer, Mrs. Sanders and White put yard signs at the homes of seniors to recognize them.
“Everyone is heartbroken for the kids,” White said. “We have had many discussions as an administrative group and received suggestions from staff on how to honor these kids. It has taken an emotional toll on our staff as all of us are very close to our students.”
The graduation video will be edited and released at a later date.
“I hope graduates feel honored by what we have done and what we are planning to do in the next week,” White said. “I wish I could shake their hand or give them a hug to let them know how much the staff and myself feel for them.
“Obviously with our current situation, they will be a very memorable class, but this will not define them. I wish their Senior year could have ended differently, but I hope they have special memories to take with them.”
